Agilent to cut 2,700 jobs in restructuringNews & Analysis 3/26/2009 Post a commentAgilent Technologies plans to cut about 2,700 jobs--roughly 14 percent of its workforce--as part of a major restructuring in its Electronic Measurement and Semiconductor & Board Test segments which will include new leadership.

Cobham reorganizes design and test activitiesNews & Analysis 3/24/2009 Post a commentBritish defense, aerospace and sub-assembly group Cobham plc is bringing together three of its design, development and testing businesses, Vector Fields, ERA Technology and Culham Lightning, under a new operating company dubbed Cobham Technical Services.

Yokogawa : New models expand applications for OTDR familyProduct News 3/24/2009 Post a commentSix models have been added to the Yokogawa AQ7275 Series of optical time-domain reflectometers (OTDRs), extending its range of applications to cover virtually all metro, access and core networks as well as FTTH (fibre to the home) and PONs (passive optical networks).

IEEE, conference drive smart gridsNews & Analysis 3/19/2009 Post a commentThe IEEE formally approved a new group that will scope out standards for smart grids, and a separate set of stakeholders announced plans for a conference to guide federal investments in the area.

Japan suffers lowest ever chip equipment book-to-billNews & Analysis 3/18/2009 Post a commentThe global book-to-bill ratio for Japanese semiconductor manufacturing equipment dropped to 0.35 in February  the lowest figure on record, according to a Dow Jones report which gave the Semiconductor Equipment Association of Japan as its source.

Tire pressure monitors to reduce CO2 emissonsNews & Analysis 3/10/2009 2 commentsThe European Parliament Tuesday (March 10) passed a proposal that will make tire pressure sensors for new cars mandatory. The industry is prepared to offer the technology required  but new developments enhance the scope of options.